Lays of Ancient Rome

by Thomas Babbington Macaulay

Sextus Tarquinius A note on The Lays of Ancient Rome by Thomas Babington Macaulay This Sextus is the ill-famed Sextus Tarquinius, son of Lucius Tarquinius (called Supurbus for his strength and pride). His ``deed of shame'' was the ravishment of Lucrece, the wife of Collatinus, a Roman noble and one of Sextus' officers. As a result of the rape and a general disgust at the tyranny of Superbus, the Tarquins were banished from Rome, ending the line of Kings going back to Romulus. Thereafter, Rome was administered by Consuls elected yearly. By far the most famous rendition of the story of Lucrece and Sextus in English is Shakespeare's Rape of Lucrece Bob Blair, Editor. B A C K

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